Vehicle spring



O. W. FRY

v VEHICLE SPRING July 2s, 1931A.

Filed Oct. 27. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 59* Inven'oz. orfander W Fry. by Mm 0. W. FRY

VEHICLE SPRING July 28, l1931.

Filed o ct. 211928v 2 sheets-sneer 2 In venoz'. rczncer WFzy Patented July 28, 193,1

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:v

ORLANDER W. FRY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO O. R. FULLER GO., OFYLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION GF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE SPRING" rlhis invention relates' to an improvement in vehicle springs and the principal ob]ect thereof .1s to provide a spring thatrwill automatically take up or release the load asy it is increased or decreased to therebyfmaintain ak relativelyv even resiliency between ythe frame and axles of a vehicle.

To that end I provide a support that is formed of .a mainr spring that normally carries the frame` and a predetermined amount ofthe'load, and adjacent to this main spring I provide an auxiliary spring that is normally inactive but which is arranged to coact with the main spring as soon as the load has been increased beyond a predetermined weight, or when a rebound in travel drives the load toward or freni the axles with an increasing force.

"Another object ofthe invention is to provideL a resilientv Vsupport for a vvehicle frame including a main and auxiliary spring arranged adjacent rto one another with their ends engaged by the same bearing blocks with/the blocks so constructed and arranged that they can rock yon the axles to reversely lengthen' and shorten the `distance between the bearingl points at the Yend of the, springs as the weight of the load increases or decreases oras the springs may be effected by uneven travel.' lIn other words the springs are constructedand arranged so that as the Weight of the load increasesvthe distance 'between the end bearings of the main spring isincreased and the distance between the end bearings of thev r auxiliary spring isV decreased and vice versa. e

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient support for a vehicle frame with bearings that compensate for twists or side thrusts between the frame and axles so thaty the springs are not subjected to twists or strains such as would crystallize them and cause them to be easily broken.

A To that end I provide end bearings -for the ends of the springs that havere'silient bushings which. compensate for uneven travel so'that twisting strains of uneven travel is absorbed by the resilient bushings.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Serial No. 315,482.

vide a resilient support for a vehicle frame that is constructed and arranged to facilitate turning the vehicle from a straight course or consummating a curve. To that end I provide a support including springs that permit the distance between the tractor and trailer wheels to be automatically increased or decreased so that, when the vehicle is in motion and consummating a curve momentum will throw the weight of the load outwardly from the center of the curve, thereby lengthening the outside spring so that its trailerl wheel will lag rearwardly while simultaneously the inside spring is correspondingly shortened to pull its trailer' wheel forward so that all of the wheels travel in the arcs described by the front steering wheel. By this construction andarrangement of the spring support the vehicle will consummate a turn without any of the wheels slipping or being out of tread. f

A feature of invention is shown in the means for mounting the auxiliary spring so that both. of its ends are free to slide on the upper end of the rocking bearing that supportsv the ends of the main springs; and also invention is shown in the means for tying the auxiliary spring down to the main spring so that it is normally idle until the load has reached a predetermined weight, except that at all times it main spring in resisting shock and from uneven travel.y

Other objects,"advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed de'- scription and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

F ig. l is a semidiagrammatic view of the resilient support for a vehicle frame before the auxiliary spring is strapped down to the main spring; and showing by dotted lines the difference between the set of the two springs. Fie'. 2is a view analogous to Fig. l with the springs secured to the center bearing'and strapped together. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig.

rebound 2 showing the springs secured to the center bearing. l

F 1g. 4 is another cross section on line 4-4, Fig. 2, showing the auxiliary spring y strapped `down to the niain spring. Fig. 5 is a ,centr-al longitudinal section through the rocking bearing for the springs that is inounted on the trailer wheel axle., Fig 6 is a crossV section on the line 6-6, Fig. 2, showingthe meansfor holding the iea'ves of the auxiliary` spring together when strapped down on the main spring.- y Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View of a six-whe'elitruclr illustrating the action o1 the springsl between the drive and trailer wheels when the truck is traveling inra ciirvedcou'rse. Fig. ".8 ris a :side vview or the resilient support interposed between the ymlesz'aiid "a Vehicletrainev and illustrating by dotted lines-the rocking actionot theb'earing's that Vsupport the ends of ythe iiiaiii aiidfauxiliary springs; Yand also showingthat asthe'niain springis increased fin' length Ior liatztened out theidisitance between the supports `for f the ends 'o' 'the auxiliary spring is correspondingly decreased. Fig. Q'is' an enlarged crosssection on the line 9-9, Fig. 8, showing the detailed construction of the rocking Vbearingfor the springs that is connected to lthe axle of the drive wheels, and also showing the arrangement of the resilient bushingin'the bearing. Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross section on the'fline lll-10, Fig.

8,; showing an end View lofthe housings that are sei-zured'over the resilient bushing of the The resilient vsupport includes aniain semifelliptical spring and an auxiliary f senil-elliptical spring iothat are arranged a pivot bloclr'17 fand on opposite' sides or n yokes 1 8, cross plates are secured thereto hy 19 and nuts 20.

referably the vmain spring 15 is arranged underneathtlie block 17 yand has a set ofV about three inches, which is indicated in Fig. 1 byr the dotted line fr-'5; itV being understood that vthe set can be more or less 'as l.may be'ldesiredand this vspring is arranged to normally support the frame and a predetermined amount lof tlie'load'inde vpendently 'oi the auxiliary spring. Y

The auxiliary spri'iigl is arranged above the blockl `17 and has 'a set of about one and one-half inches, vwhich vis. indicated in 1 hy dotted linee-d; the set can be more or lessV as may be desired, and the purpose of this spring is to Vassist the main spring after the load has .been iiicreased beyond a predetermined weight.v

In other Words this spring is relatively *in* active until the weight of the load has been increased beyond a predetermined amount, except that at' all times it coacts with the main spring in resisting shocks and rebound in travelover rough'and'uneven roads. The

block 17 -can be Aarranged centrally* or at any suitable point between the ends of the "springand is pivotally mounted on a cross rod 21 supported by brackets 22 that are secured tothe rame`23. Only one of the brackets22 and a .portion or" ythe traine "are shown in the drawings. These -parts are old and .wellunderstood in the art.

l 1n` the drawings the block l17 is shown slightly ,olf center .for theA purpose oi throwing a majorppa-rt of the" weight to the driving axle-24 and a minor portiono'l" the weight to the trailer'axle 25 of a six wheel trucl 10G, as indicated in Fig. 7. ln- .other words vthis springis especially constructed for use on four wheel trucksconverted into six Wheelers by adding a .pair ot trailer wheels; however, it may be understood that the spring can be used on 'any type of vehicle.

After the springs are secured to the, pivot block 17 the leaves of the auxiliary spring adjacent each'end or' the blochl? are tied together by straps 255 and bolts 27 so they will not spread orfsepaiate ywhen the ends` othissprin'g-are drawn down into sliding engagement vwith the tia-t top lsurfaces 'of the rocking bearings 28-29 that are pivotally mounted on the ka-Xles 24,25. y

'The ends` ofthe auxiliary spring-are held in slidinglenfgagenient with thetlat top surfaces oic the rocking bearings 2 ,29. by the straps 30, c'ro'ssfpl'ates 3 1 and nuts 32 that are arranged about v'aniecpial distance `from the block 17. v Y

vEach ofztliestraps 30 hasja` top center. pin,

33V that extends'into'a hole 34: in the spi leaf it engages, and thisspin Aaids l vholt the straps inproper position relatiife to the main spring and bearings, see Fig. il.

The ends'oii the auxiliary springs 1 6 4are tied down so they slidingly engage with the flat top surfaces ofthe rocking be ri s 28- 2 9 and =areheld'thereon by the. le bars 35, vthat aresecured in piace f y bolts 37 that also )function to hold the'top and bottom housings 38, 39 seatedon the resilient bushings Z1() that are secured on t Lne linet-al bushings L11 which iare pivotaily4 mounted on the axles 24, 25. f

' The'honsings38` and 39 are additionally secured togetherby -a countersunk Hbolt 42 so thatv it lholds 'the' 'bushings 40,41 secured on the driveia'Xle 24"sothat the bearing can rock on the axle.

bearing in the downwardly extending rigid arms 4G outside springs,

assise@ The end 43 of the main spring'is mounted on a rocking bushing 44 through which a pin 45 is extended that is secured that are, integral with the bottom housing 39 of the bearing 28. The pin 45 is constructed so thatv the bushing 44 can rock to prevent excessive twist on the springs adja cent their ends which also is the purpose ofthe resilient bushings 4() which are preferably formed of rubber so that they can yield considerably to prevent excessive strains from injuring the springs adjacent their ends.

The` rocking bearing 29 is substantially like the bearing 28 except that the end 47 of themain spring is connected to the bottom of the housing 39 by a strap 48 and a bolt 49 that passes through the two bottom leaves ofthe main spring.

The connection of the ends 43, 47 to the rocking bearings 28, 29 is such that the bearings can rock on the axles 24, 25 when therer is a heavy load on the springs or they are affected by the shock in rough travel; and'when the bearings rock so theirlower ends are moved away from one another, the main springs will lengthen or straighten out and simultaneously the upper surfaces of the bearings will be moved toward one another and slide under the ends of the auxiliary springs to shorten the distance between the points of support of the auxiliary spring to thereby enable it to support a correspondingly greater amount of the load and thereby maintains a relatively even resiliency between the frame and axles of a vehicle.

f This resilient support, in addition to carrying the frame with an evenresiliency alsoA enables the vehicle to be more easily turned from a straight course, as momentum will cause theweight to be thrown to one side or the other of the vehicle, thereby shortening the inside spring and lengthening the and thereby causing the outside trailer wheel to lag behind while the inside trailer wheel is drawn toward the driver as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7, and as seen therein, the outside trailer wheel k5() is further behind the drive wheel 51 than the trailer wheel 52 is behind the drive wheel 53, and all of the wheels are in alinement in the arcs 54, 55 and 56, 57 described by the steering Wheels 58.

y In operation the springs are connected betweeny the frame andk axles of a vehicle as shown and described; and as stated the main springs normally carry the frame and a predetermined amount of the load while the auxiliary springs vare relatively inactive until the load is increased beyonda predeter-k mined weight or until it is necessary for them to act to aid the main springs'in resisting the shock of travel, then the auxiliary springs coact with ythe main springs, as

stated, andthe resilient or rubber bushings 40 prevent excessive strain from being applied to the springs adjacent their ends.

j It is noted that the main and auxiliar7 springs are mounted on load changes so that the bearing point of support of the auxiliary spring shortens the effective length of said spring as the load increases and thereby causes said auxiliary spring to take relatively more load. As the load is diminished the bearings are rocked in the opposite direction by the main spring whereby the auxiliary spring is caused to take relatively less of the load. To operate in the manner just stated it is preferable thattlie bearings have flattened top surfaces on which the ends of the auxiliary spring rest and are slidable. i

I claim as my invention: l. A spring support for a vehicle having a frame, and a pair of substantially parallel axles, including a main Senn-elliptical spring, an auxiliary semi-elliptical spring ksubstaiitially parallel with and above said main spring means` for mounting said springs between their ends to said frame, andfrocling bearings onr said axles for supporting the ends of said springs, the ends of the main spring being connected with said bearings so as to rock the saine as the load increases or diminishes, and the auxiliary spring mounting with said bearings so that the point of support of said springs changes i as the bearings are rocked, substantially as set forth.

2. A spring support for a vehicle having` a frame and a pair of substantially parallel axles, including a main semi-elliptical spring, an auxiliary semi-elliptical spring f ksubstantially parallel with said main spring,

means for mounting said springs between their ends to the frame, with theinain spring below said mounting means and the auxiliary spring above said mounting means, 'L'

rocking bearings on said axles, means. for connecting the main spi-ino" with the lower part of said bearings so that said spring when subjected to load changes will rock said bearings, and a flattened surface on the top of each the ends of the auxiliary spring are slidably connected se that the points of support of said auxiliary spring will be changed as the bearings rock.

8. A springsupport for a vehicle having a frame and a pair of substantially parallel axles, including a main semi-elliptical spring, an auxiliary 'semi-elliptical spring substantially parallel with said main spring,

means for mounting said springs between their ends to the frame with the main spring below said mounting means and auxiliary spring above said mounting means, rocking bearings on said axles, means for connectrocking bearingsv 5 `which are rocked by the main spring as the of said bearings with which neoted, whereby the and rook sai'd bearings l ing the vmain spring with the lower partof said bearings iso that said spring when sub'- jected to load Vehan'ges will rock said 4:bearings,"and aattened 'surface on 'the vvtop of Veaoh ofsaidbearings with which the ends of theiau-xiliary yspring are 's'lidably Vvoonmain i springl will lengthen lunder load y and change the point of support of the auxiliary springs onsaid bearings so as kto relav tively diminish lthe effective llength of the main spring as vthe load increases.

4. A spring supportfor a vehicle having a frameand a `pair of "substantially parallel axles, consisting of two substantially parallel Vsemi-elliptical springs, being the main spring `one of said springs andv the other the auxiliary spring, means for ,mounting 'said springs between their ends to the'frame with the main spring and' the 'auxiliaryspring` above said mounting means, rooking'bearings on said axles, a rigid arm extending down from one of said bea-rings with which one end of 'the f main yspring is pivotal'ly Connected and the opposite bearing Vhaving' aV `flat under-side with which the other end Vof said main spring slidably engages, andthe top 'ol' `the bearings having flattened surfaces on which the ends of vthe'auxiliary'spring rest -and Aarey slidable, and straps connected with said bearingsor loosely surrounding and hold? ing the slidably mounted endof lsaid'main spring and the two ends of said auxiliary spring in slidable connectionV `with the bearings. n

5. A spring support for avehiele having a traine, a driving wheel axle, and a trailer wheel axle substantially parallel therewith, inoluding/a'pivot block adapted to be vsecured kto the frame, main semi-elliptical spring connected .between its 'ends to the underside of said block, an `rauxiliary semi-'elliptical spring Amounted between its ends upon saidblool'and 'substantially Aparallel with said main spring, a rookingbearing on said drivejwheel axle that isqoivotal-,ly7 con-V Vneoted on its underside to the forward end of saidmain v'springV andl slidably connected on its vupper side'with the 'forward end Vof said auxiliary spring, and 'a rocking bearing pivotally mounted onv saidtrailer axle and similarly seoured'to'the ends of said springs, whereby, underincreased load,said main spring will lengthen and Vsaid auxiliary spring lwill correspondingly diminish. in length substantally vas set forth. u

n witness 'whereof,l have hereunto affixed v my signature.

, oRLANDER wf-FRY.

ifsiiegooe below said mounting lmeans 

